I let out a shaky breath that I didn't notice I had been holding. I didn't know how to deal with this situation. Italy had not one but two people over at his house, and if I went in, I would most likely run into them. Then I would have to talk to them.
The contents in the box was rattling slightly as my hands shook, the nerves welling up inside my chest. I couldn't go in and face the guests. Italy would be mad at me if I went in and caused his guests to become upset at me if I said the wrong thing. They might be talking some important business, or it was a friendly visit, I didn't know, and I was too scared to find out.
I was halfway down the steps when a thought popped into my head. It was lunch time, and the guests might be hungry. Italy was most likely taking a siesta, even if he did have visitors over, being the carefree person he was. The new thought made me feel a little guilty. If I left, I would leave those poor people hungry. I glanced down at the white box in my hands, fingering at the string that wrapped around it. If Italy was napping, as I believe he would be, then his guests might be asleep as well. I could sneak in and set the box down somewhere without being spotted. If they weren't taking a siesta and were awake, well… at least I wouldn't have to face Italy.
The thought of leaving the guests hungry overwhelmed the fear leaving them and I found myself stepping back into the house. I may be fearful of people, but I wasn't heartless. I would have something to tell Miss Hannah, at least, the next time she came over. She would be so proud.
The house was… unusually clean. Typically items of clothing loitered around the chairs or in the walkway and dust gathered on the shelves, but so far, I had yet to find a sock or a stray dust bunny. The living room was empty, but I could hear faint voices in the kitchen, as well as a smoky, meaty smell lingering in the air. It sort of smelled like…sausage of some sort. My felt my frown deepen. Italy didn't care much for sausage as far as my memory served me, or even kept it in stock in his kitchen. Perhaps it was made for one of his guests?
I found myself creeping towards the kitchen, my footsteps quiet on the wooden floors. I knew I could have just left the box in the living room and left without any interaction with Italy's guests, but I had to wonder who they were, especially if they brought sausage with them. I pressed myself against the wall beside the doorway to the kitchen, doing my best to keep my knees from shaking. All I had to do was lean a bit forward and peer inside the kitchen. Just a peek.
I could do this.
Breathing in a quiet breath I tipped my head forward, my gray eyes peering around the doorframe and into Italy's grand kitchen. Present was a familiar bouncing curl, a head of short and slicked back golden yellow hair, and the back of another whose head was in one of the cupboards searching for something.
"Germany~! I'm hungry!" Italy wined, tugging on the tall blond man's shirt, looking like a spoiled child.
"Give me a minute, Italy." The blond's voice was a tad gruff, hiding a sigh behind his words. There was an obvious accent present. Judging from what Italy called him, I was safe to assume that this Germany was…well…German.
The German turned, causing me to cringe back behind the safety of the wall. "Japan, have you found the pepper yet?"
There was a quiet murmur of a no.
"Ve~ I'll help you!" Italy's voice sounded, and a loud ruckus of the Italian rummaging in the cupboards ensued. "Romano sure knows how to hide the spices!"
My lips had formed a thin line as I listened to the trio. Italy and Romano were notorious for putting their spices in strange places- and neither of them put them in the same spot. Italy, naturally, always forgot where Romano put them after he was done using them, and likewise with Romano and Italy's hiding. They really were brothers…even if they acted nothing alike.
Despite the nagging voice in the back of my head that told me to leave while I had the chance, I poked my head back into the room cautiously. The German was busy with something on the stove and the other two were still rummaging in the cupboards-the wrong cupboards. They would never find the pepper in there.
"Ve, I wonder where it is!" Italy said, rubbing the back of his head in thought.
"It's under the sink." The words escaped my lips before I could even register what I was doing.
"Thanks, Vati!" Italy didn't even notice, going straight to the sink to grab the pepper.
"Vati?" The one named Germany turned his head to Italy. It seemed to dawn on the Italian, his head snapping up and slamming into the top of the cupboard under the sink.
"Vati?!" He straightened up, hand on his wound, his amber eyes actually open as he stared at the doorway. Right at me.
I tensed up, bringing the white box to my chest, causing the keys around my neck to clink together. "U-um…" Nerves shot right up into my throat, the butterflies lurching in my stomach. "H-hello?" I was unsure of what to say. Italy was staring at me as if I was a ghost and the other two seemed.. well… I wasn't actually looking at them. I really should've listen to that voice in my head.
What came next I wasn't expecting at all. There was a flurry of color, a bouncing curl, and Italy had his arms around me, slamming right into my chest. I barely had time to get the box up above my head so he wouldn't crush them, almost dropping it as I staggered back into the wall. I lost all the wind in me, and Italy had such a grip around my thin frame it was hard to return my breath. "I-Italy?" I could barely wheeze it out, the Italian hugging me so tight.
"Oh Vati! I haven't seen you in a long time!" Italy cried, almost taking out my eardrums in the process, rubbing his cheek against my chest, causing the two keys to click together.
"Italy, let go of the poor man. You're suffocating him." The German came to my rescue, Italy letting go and sat back, actually looking at me.
"Vati, you're pale. Have you been eating properly? Come and eat with us!" He was fussing over me like a worried mother, grabbing my hand and pulling me up off the floor. It didn't take much effort- I weighed much less than Italy, less than what was probably healthy. "Germany's making wurst!"
"W-wurst…?" Was that what the sausage-y smell was coming from…?
My arm was practically wrenched from its socket as Italy tugged me into the kitchen, beaming happily. I cringed under the gaze of his two friends. "Germany! Japan! This is Vatican! He's going to eat with us!"
I was? I managed to draw my gaze from Italy up to the tall German, right into his own blue gaze. I tensed, shaking slightly. "I-I-um… it's…nice to meet…you…?" My voice squeaked slightly at the end. I had never expected to come into Italy's home to find two countries present. This was… a bit more than what I could tolerate.
Germany nodded at my words, a previous confused look fading into a… kinder expression?
"Ja, it's nice to meet you too." Well, that was… better than I previously thought. Although he looked like he could break every bone in my body by even touching me, I felt as if he wouldn't do that. Unless I did something wrong.
My worries were taken away as Italy tugged at the box in my hands. "Ve~ You brought some treats?"
"Y-yes," I stammered, fumbling at the string and opened the box to reveal the biscotti inside. Italy was acting…way nicer than he had the last time I met him. Perhaps it was because his friends were here.
Italy took the box right out of my hands, a bright smile on his face. "Germany! Germany, look! He's brought biscotti!"
"Calm down before you drop the entire box," Germany grunted, turning back to finishing cooking the wurst he had been fussing over before.
Soon the plate of wurst was set out on Italy's large kitchen table beside the box of biscotti I had bought. As I thought, Italy didn't seem to be so pleased with the sausage, but ate one anyway to make Germany happy before helping himself to about a third of the box of biscotti. The German scolded Italy for eating too many carbs, and Italy told him that he was too strict. Japan seemed to sit back quietly, eating his food, imputing here and there, but otherwise remained silent. I didn't mind the Asian. He seemed more tolerable than the German and Italy. He was quiet, but chose words that were truthful and thoughtful, yet refrained from taking either side of the conversation. He was alright.
Germany, on the other hand, was a bit serious. Too serious. He scolded and sat straight and proper, not taking Italy's messy behavior lightheartedly. He had leaned over the table more than once to clean up the crumbs that Italy made by eating the biscotti, grumbling about the mess. At least I knew now who cleaned the place.
The three seemed to have forgotten about me, not that I minded. I didn't touch the biscotti or the wursts, as I wasn't hungry. Being in the same room with three people was enough to send the little appetite I had packing. I sat, fidgeting slightly, my hands in my lap as I kept my eyes from wandering too much, taking interest in a knot in the wood that was shaped a bit like a bird's head. Yet after awhile, Italy turned his attention onto me.
"Ve, Vati, how long has it been since I've seen you last?"
I glanced up, blinking at him. "Um…" I bit my lower lip in thought. When had it been? It was after regaining my home, that's for sure. "A little after the second World War started," I murmured after mulling it over.
"Ve, that's such a long time." The Italian frowned, lost in thought.
If my memory served me correctly, Germany, Italy, and Japan had been the losing side of World War Two. The Axis, was it? It was strange to see them sitting together. It had been years since the war ended, yet they were still friends. It was nice, seeing Italy retaining the same cluster of friends throughout the years. I had remained neutral throughout the fight, so my presence in the war was insignificant. Not that I minded.
"Don't mind me asking, but why haven't I seen you around?" Germany's words broke through my silence, my eyes flickering over to the taller man.
"I…don't get out much," I admitted, trailing my gaze back to the bird head shaped knot in the table. There was a small dark blot in the middle of it, almost like an eye. I hadn't noticed that before.
"Well! I'm going to change that!" Italy suddenly stood up, his chair almost tipping over, a smile on his face. I snapped my eyes up at him, as so did the other two. His eyes were open- that must be a record having his eyes open twice in one day- and he was staring right at me.
"P-pardon?" I stared up at him, fighting the urge to slide right under the table to hide. There was a determined look in his smile that I hadn't seen before.
"Vati," he said, his smile not fading. "You're coming with me and my boss to Russia's home!"
I stared at him, losing all color in my pale face. He wanted me to go to… Russia…?
"Italy, do you think that is a good idea?" Germany seemed a bit cautious. It was strange. I thought the man was tough and strong, but at the mention of Russia, his face had paled slightly. Italy frowned, his eyes drooping close.
"You know how he's like." Japan spoke up, his accent making his words sound a bit strange, but it was understandable. I didn't know what they were getting on about. Was this Russia person scary or something?
"I know, but you two are going to be at America's place the same week, and mi fratello already said he'd rather die than go to Russia. I don't want to go alone!" The Italian turned back to me, a pleading look on his face. "Please Vati! Please come with me! It won't be very long, just a few days!"
I let my shoulders slump slightly in defeat, a sigh escaping my lips. "I suppose if your boss and this Russia doesn't mind."
And Italy's arms were around my thin frame in a tight hug, almost knocking me onto the floor. I didn't understand why Italy and his boss had to go to Russia- it was probably some normal political talk and such- but since Italy needed someone to go, out of the goodness of my heart I couldn't just let him leave by himself.
I just hoped this mistake wouldn't go down in flames.
